eighty-seventh
LowNeutral to Formal (when used precisely). Informal in celebratory contexts (e.g., birthdays).
Definition
Meaning
The ordinal number corresponding to the cardinal number eighty-seven; the position in a sequence after the eighty-sixth.
Used to denote one of 87 equal parts of a whole (e.g., an eighty-seventh share). Can also refer informally to a person or thing in this position, such as a recurring birthday.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Functions primarily as an ordinal numeral, but can be nominalized (e.g., "the eighty-seventh"). Unlike some lower ordinals, it is rarely used metaphorically.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or use. Hyphenation standard in both varieties.
Connotations
Neutral numerical connotation in both. May carry connotations of longevity or rarity when referring to age or infrequent events.
Frequency
Equally low frequency in both dialects, used only when the specific number is contextually required.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
the + eighty-seventh + nounnoun + number + eighty-sevenhis/her/my + eighty-seventhVocabulary
Synonyms
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare; used in formal reports or historical sequencing ("the company's eighty-seventh annual report").
Academic
Used in historical chronology, legal/article numbering, or statistical sequencing.
Everyday
Almost exclusively for birthdays or anniversaries of very long duration.
Technical
Used in precise lists, rankings, or part numbering where sequential identification is critical.
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- She celebrated her eighty-seventh birthday with a quiet gathering.
- The amendment failed on its eighty-seventh reading in Parliament.
American English
- He's running his eighty-seventh marathon this weekend.
- The bill was introduced in the Eighty-seventh Congress.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- My grandma is eighty-seven years old. Today is her eighty-seventh birthday.
- He finished eighty-seventh in the race, which was a personal best.
- Please turn to page eighty-seven. Now, look at the eighty-seventh line.
- The museum is hosting the eighty-seventh exhibition in its long history, focusing on postwar design.
- Despite it being his eighty-seventh attempt, he remained optimistic about passing the test.
- The clause, buried in the eighty-seventh article of the treaty, proved to be the most contentious during the negotiations.
- Her research analyses demographic shifts as documented in the eighty-seventh census report, identifying key trends missed by earlier studies.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'ATE (8) a TEA (T & 7) on my birthday, and it was my Nth one.' (80 + 7 + th).
Conceptual Metaphor
PROGRESS IS A SEQUENCE/JOURNEY (e.g., "on his eighty-seventh trip around the sun").
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Direct translation yields 'восемьдесят седьмой' (masculine). Ensure agreement with the gender of the noun it modifies (восемьдесят седьмая/ое/ые).
- Do not omit the hyphen in English; Russian writes it as separate words.
Common Mistakes
- Writing as 'eighty seventh' (missing hyphen).
- Mispronouncing '-nth' as '-enth'.
- Using cardinal form (eighty-seven) where ordinal is required (e.g., *He is eighty-seven years old today* is correct for age, but *It's his eighty-seven birthday* is incorrect).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the correct written form of the ordinal number?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, ordinal numbers from twenty-first to ninety-ninth are hyphenated in standard English.
Yes, when nominalised (e.g., "He was the eighty-seventh to cross the finish line").
It's a single /θ/ sound (unvoiced 'th' as in 'thin'). Avoid adding a vowel sound before it ('sev-enth' is incorrect; it's 'sev-nth').
No difference in meaning. '87th' is the numeric abbreviation and is more common in tables, lists, or informal notes, while 'eighty-seventh' is standard in prose.